'It's an extreme honour' - a Kentucky family's pride over Ruling Court's British Classic

Those rare occasions when European-based horses have run in the Kentucky Derby always have a sense of the exotic but ultimately futile about them, like a plucky Brit trying to beat the Swiss and Norwegians at skiing.

Succeeding with the reverse 4,000-mile journey from Kentucky to Newmarket should not be considered much less alien. The Mayer family managed such a feat over the weekend as the 2,000 Guineas winner Ruling Court was bred at their Nursery Place, not far from Lexington in Clark County.

Watching the Justify colt they brought to market at the Keeneland September Yearling Sale progress all the way to a Classic in the cradle of thoroughbred racing is not something they are taking for granted.